Key Dates

Related Announcements

NOT-OD-22-176 - Notice of Early Expiration of NOT-OD-22-106 Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Increasing Uptake of Evidence-Based Screening in Diverse Populations Across the Lifespan

NOT-OD-22-075 - Reissuance of PA-18-932 Increasing Uptake of Evidence-Based Screening in Diverse Adult Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) as a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI)

NOT-OD-22-106 - Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Increasing Uptake of Evidence-Based Screening in Diverse Populations Across the Lifespan

NOT-OD-22-179- Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Addressing Evidence Gaps in Screening

PAR-20-052 - NCI Small Grants Program for Cancer Research for Years 2020, 2021, and 2022 (NCI Omnibus R03 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-20-150 - NIMHD Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

PA-20-183 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PA-20-184 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PA-20-185 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-194 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)

PA-20-195 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-196 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PAR-20-310 - Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01- Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-035 - Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Grant Program (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PAR-21-063 - NIDCD Low Risk Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PAR-21-081 - Addressing Health Disparities Among Immigrant Populations through Effective Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-097 - Prevention and Intervention Approaches for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-098 - Prevention and Intervention Approaches for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-129 - Clinical Trials to Test the Effectiveness of Treatment, Preventive, and Services Interventions (Collaborative R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PAR-21-130 - Clinical Trials to Test the Effectiveness of Treatment, Preventive, and Services Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PAR-21-131 - Pilot Effectiveness Trials for Treatment, Preventive and Services Interventions (R34 Clinical Trial Required)

PAR-21-160 - NIDCR Clinical Trial Planning and Implementation Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)

PA-21-180 - Pilot Health Services and Economic Research on the Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use Disorders (R34 - Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-190 - Modular R01s in Cancer Control and Population Sciences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-275 - The Role of Work in Health Disparities in the U.S. (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)

PAR-21-287 - Effectiveness of School-Based Health Centers to Advance Health Equity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-316 - Innovative Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

PAR-21-317 - NIDCR Behavioral and Social Intervention Clinical Trial Planning and Implementation Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)

PAR-21-341 - Exploratory Grants in Cancer Control (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-21-358 - Risk and Protective Factors of Family Health and Family Level Interventions (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-22-082 - Innovative Pilot Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-22-105 - Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

PAR-22-106 - Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-22-109 - Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Issued by

Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Disease Prevention (ODP)

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers. The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers.

Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)

Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)

Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO)

Purpose

The Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) and participating National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICs) are issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to encourage applications proposing to test multilevel strategies and interventions to improve the uptake of evidence-based screening services across the lifespan and in populations including, but not limited to, those experiencing health disparities and those that are underserved. Studies addressing efficacy, effectiveness, dissemination and implementation research, as well as studies seeking to understand and address barriers to screening are encouraged. The specific research interests of participating NIH ICs are detailed within.

Background

Preventive screening is a critical strategy to prevent illness before it causes symptoms or problems, and as such, can play a key role in enhancing health, lengthening life, and reducing illness and disability. Despite the demonstrated health benefits of screening for many preventable conditions, children and adults in the United States receive approximately half of the preventive health care services recommended by expert committees, such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF; i.e., Grade A or B recommended screenings), Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Bright Futures Guidelines, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Women’s Preventive Services Initiative. Notably, although the Affordable Care Act has helped to reduce disparities in coverage and increased access to screenings in populations that experience health disparities, screening rates for certain services remain suboptimal among some racial and ethnic minority groups, rural residents, and persons of lower socioeconomic status. These disparities may be driven by the complex interplay between determinants or factors at different levels of the Social Ecological Model of Health (e.g., individual, relationship, community, and societal levels), necessitating a multilevel approach to improve screening uptake.

The NIH convened a Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Workshop: Achieving Health Equity in Preventive Services in 2019 to evaluate the evidence on disparities in the uptake of USPSTF-recommended clinical preventive services, including screenings. The workshop concluded that enhanced delivery and uptake of proven effective screening interventions to communities disproportionately burdened by chronic diseases is a pressing need. The corresponding Independent Panel Report and Federal Partners Meeting Report of this P2P Workshop delineates recommendations for future research to improve the dissemination and implementation of effective screening preventive services.

Research Objectives:

This NOSI encourages highly innovative translational research focused on the delivery of multilevel interventions to improve uptake of evidence-based screening services that promote health equity and that are recommended by expert committees (e.g., the USPSTF, CPSTF, AAP, ACOG). Multilevel interventions are one tool to reduce health disparities and promote health equity because they address the dynamic interplay of multiple levels of socioecological influence, including those at the individual, interpersonal, family, organizational, neighborhood, community, and societal levels. For the purpose of this NOSI, a multilevel intervention addresses at least two levels of influence to improve screening uptake (See the NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework and the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework for examples of health determinants at different levels of influence). Multilevel interventions would include group- or cluster-randomized trials and stepped wedge group- or cluster-randomized trials (See the Research Methods Resources website for more information). Prospective applicants whose research interests relate to studies that seek to build the evidence base for screenings that have not received a definitive grade or recommendation from expert committees are directed to the companion NOSI (NOT-OD-22-179).

At minimum, the proposed studies must:

• Include screening as a primary outcome,
• Inform the development of OR test an intervention or strategy that acts on at least two socioecological levels (e.g., individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, or societal); and
• Include OR test an intervention or strategy that demonstrates high potential for scalability and sustainability.

Research within scope of this funding opportunity includes, but is not limited to:

• Research to increase screening uptake across all ages and developmental stages
• Research conducted in diverse settings (e.g., beauty shops, churches, geriatric service settings, pharmacies, schools/colleges/universities) that also include delivery of intervention(s)/screening(s) by providers from non-traditional backgrounds and disciplines (e.g., dietitians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists) and/or providers (e.g., lay health advisors/promotoras, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and traditional Native American healers) in those settings
• Studies that seek to understand and reduce or eliminate barriers to screening across multiple levels (e.g., at the patient, policy, provider levels), multiple sectors (e.g., healthcare, justice, child welfare, education), and/or in non-traditional settings (e.g., beauty shops, churches, geriatric service settings, pharmacies, schools/colleges/universities)
• Studies that include rigorous evaluations of policies and/or programs that seek to increase the uptake of evidence-based screening services at the provider and population levels
• Studies that assess how evidence-based screening results are used and managed by providers, including initiation and continuation of indicated services or referrals to external resources

Populations of particular interest within the above-described research scope include, but are not limited to:

• Persons or groups across the lifespan at increased risk for common physical and/or behavioral health conditions (e.g., alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder, cancer, depression, frailty, oral disease, substance use disorder, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, undernutrition) or risk factors for these conditions (e.g., inadequate dietary intake) that might benefit from preventive screening
• NIH-designated populations across the lifespan who experience health disparities in the United States, including (but not limited to) racial/ethnic minorities and other populations at risk for health disparities (refer to https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/strategic-plan/nih-strategic-plan-definitions-and-parameters.html and https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/SGMStrategicPlan_2021_2025.pdf for definitions and additional information)
• Persons in state custody or involved with social service systems (e.g., child welfare or criminal justice)
• Persons with developmental, intellectual, physical, or sensory disabilities
• Populations that underutilize, do not have access to, and/or are underserved by preventive services
• Other vulnerable populations, including high-risk pregnant women, homeless youth, immigrants, older adults, persons with limited English proficiency, persons who have experienced abuse, U.S. veterans, military members, and military families

Feasibility and pilot research studies are encouraged, as well as efficacy and effectiveness studies of new, adapted, or tailored interventions.

Researchers are highly encouraged to use the PhenX Toolkit to maximize comparisons across datasets or studies and facilitate data integration and collaboration.

Investigators should carefully review the specific research interests of NIH ICs that are participating in this NOSI.

ICO Specific Application and Submission Information:

NIH ICs have separately advanced funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) relevant to this NOSI. These FOAs might be specific to each IC mission area. Applicants must select the IC and associated FOA to use for submission of an application in response to the NOSI. The selection must align with the IC requirements listed in order to be considered responsive to that FOA. Non-responsive applications will be withdrawn from consideration for this initiative.

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is interested in multilevel evidence-based cancer screening studies among all populations, and especially among diverse populations experiencing health disparities. NCI is particularly interested in studies that address gaps in cancer screening identified by the President’s Cancer Panel. For this NOSI, evidence-based cancer screenings are those with A or B recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), including tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers; tests for conditions that increase cancer risk are also of interest. These risk-increasing conditions include BRCA-related genetic testing and hepatitis C screening. Refer to the USPSTF website for the most recent cancer screening A and B recommendations.

Multilevel interventions should focus on and measure outcomes at two or more levels of individuals (patients, clinicians, and care caregivers), teams, healthcare systems and organizations, and the community setting where the healthcare system is located. Interventions that focus on screening as a process rather than a single encounter are encouraged.

Additional areas of interest include, but are not limited to, studies that propose to:

• Identify mechanisms by which multilevel characteristics operate to enhance or inhibit provision of evidence-based screening.
• Address social determinants of health contributing to health inequities in evidence-based screening. Screening intervention strategies are encouraged that test social constructs (e.g., implicit and/or structural bias, covert and overt racism) among diverse populations experiencing health disparities.
• Enhance uptake and follow-up of self-sampling screening tests among underserved populations.
• Implement the delivery of evidence-based screening practices in low-resource or underserved areas and populations, with an emphasis on cancer screening follow-up care, especially after an abnormal result.
• Develop and/or test multilevel strategies to adapt, implement, and/or sustain evidence-based screening and follow-up practices in clinical settings.
• Develop and/or test multilevel approaches that focus on beginning and stopping screening among underserved populations.
• Develop and/or test multilevel strategies to implement recent changes in recommendations to expanded populations (e.g., younger ages in colorectal cancer screening).
• Develop and/or test multilevel strategies that incorporate health information technology and/or team-based approaches to improve the delivery of evidence-based screening.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) encourages experimental, observational, or interventional studies focused on screening adults in midlife and at older ages. Interventions may be focused on individuals, dyads, families, communities, organizations, and/or systems. NIA is interested in intervention research that aligns with the Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Research Implementation Milestones (https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/milestones).

For clinical trial proposals, studies should use screening strategies that have evidence of efficacy and that the intervention can be delivered with fidelity. NIA is especially interested in receiving applications that fall within Stage V of the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development that focus on the mechanisms that promote the successful implementation of interventions, consistent with the NIH Science of Behavior Change emphasis on mechanisms of change. NIA is also interested in preliminary (Stage I, II, and III) behavioral intervention development for mid-life and older individuals that capitalizes on and integrates basic research to inform the development of efficacious interventions, in accordance with the NIH Stage Model. Information about the NIH Stage Model and behavioral intervention development can be found at: https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dbsr/stage-model-behavioral-intervention-development.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Evaluate the impact of a personalized preventive care program on screening, health care utilization, and expenditure trends
• Evaluate the impact of programs to encourage the use of annual wellness visits, overall and through mechanisms adapted to underserved populations and the practices that serve them
• Evaluate low-cost interventions designed to improve physician adherence to recommended screening guidelines to increase use of preventive services and improve health outcomes
• Evaluate approaches that would enable screening interventions to be focused on those at particular life stages or on the entire life course
• Determine how linkages and more coordinated screening activities across various healthcare and community settings could result in more efficiencies and improved health outcomes

New data collection, novel interventions, or secondary analysis of existing datasets, such as the Health and Retirement Study or the Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS) Study, which contain rich data on adults targeted by this FOA are encouraged. For a list of datasets sponsored by the NIA, see: data-resources-behavioral-and-social-research-aging.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care providers screen all adults and conduct brief counseling for those who misuse alcohol, as it found evidence in support of screening and brief intervention (SBI) delivered in primary care to adults. However, disparities in such screening have been found to exist, as Black non-Hispanic persons report significantly lower prevalence of screening than do White non-Hispanic persons, and college graduates report significantly higher prevalence of screening than do those with a high school degree or less. Moreover, while many validated instruments already exist for alcohol screening, research indicates that many providers who do report screening for alcohol misuse do not use screening tools that can detect the full spectrum of alcohol misuse e.g., they may be asking about drinking but are not properly screening or they do not engage in follow-up questions, or they are unfamiliar with typical standard drink equivalents in discussing drinking with patients. Furthermore, screening for alcohol misuse is performed inconsistently by emergency department (ED) and primary care physicians. Other populations that likely would benefit from enhanced screening strategies are pregnant women and those in elderly care. Beyond the screening process itself, provision of brief advice about drinking and subsequent referral to specialty treatment have been found to be inconsistently provided by primary care, ED, and other providers.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Establish the feasibility and efficacy of providing alcohol misuse screening opportunities among high-risk, vulnerable, and diverse populations underrepresented in research, those with higher or lower educational levels, emerging adults, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities
• Establish the feasibility and efficacy of providing alcohol misuse screening in a variety of settings (e.g., primary care settings, emergency departments, juvenile and criminal justice systems, and community settings)
• Investigate opportunities that are provided by electronic medical records to optimize and increase uptake and effectiveness of alcohol screening and brief intervention
• Evaluate models for improving identification of individuals affected by prenatal alcohol exposure across the lifespan and establish the feasibility and efficacy of screening for fetal alcohol syndrome and other disorders associated with prenatal alcohol exposure
• Increase the consistent use by primary care practitioners, ED physicians, community-based providers, and others of appropriate screening tools with established capability of detecting the full spectrum of alcohol misuse
• Increase primary care, ED, and community-based providers consistent provision of screening and brief advice about drinking and/or referral to specialty treatment for those patients screening positive for alcohol misuse

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for osteoporosis with bone measurement testing to prevent osteoporotic fractures in women 65 years and older and in postmenopausal women younger than 65 years who are at increased risk of osteoporosis, as determined by a formal clinical risk assessment tool (see Osteoporosis). The USPSTF found adequate evidence that clinical risk assessment tools are moderately accurate in identifying risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures and the most commonly used test is central dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the hip and lumbar spine. In the context of this NOSI, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) encourages highly innovative translational research focused on the dissemination and implementation of research findings from clinical and translational studies that address screening recommendations for osteoporosis. Studies seeking to improve the uptake of osteoporosis evidence-based screening services across the lifespan and in diverse populations including, but not limited to, those experiencing health disparities and those that have been underserved are also highly encouraged. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential applications with the appropriate NIAMS program director.

Eunice Kennedy ShriverNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD):

NICHD invites applications that respond to the priority areas articulated in the NICHD Strategic Plan 2020. NICHD supports research to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. For this funding opportunity, NICHD is interested in projects that aim to increase implementation and uptake of evidence-based screening among NICHD priority populations, which include:

• Infants, children, and adolescents
• Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Individuals with specific learning disorders
• Individuals with physical disabilities
• Pregnant, lactating,and postpartum women
• Young adult and midlife (up to age 50) outcomes of childhood screening

NICHD is particularly interested in projects that establish the effectiveness and scalability of screening shown to improve health outcomes in the foregoing populations and considers context, including the needs, motivations, sustainability, and barriers to participation in screening services. NICHD encourages applications that consider context and the multiple levels of the socioecological model, including family and community. NICHD’s STRIVE initiative aims to improve equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) in all aspects of supported research, which includes encouragement to leverage unique insights from members of the populations of interest as research team members or in paid advisory roles.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening adults 18 years or older for unhealthy drug use, including pregnant and postpartum women. The USPSTF has concluded that the current evidence for screening adolescents for unhealthy drug use is insufficient to make a recommendation for screening in this population. There is a need for research to contribute to the evidence base on implementation, sustainability, and scaling of screening for substance misuse and substance use disorder, including illicit drug use, prescription drug and opioid misuse, and opioid use disorder in adults, including pregnant women, in primary care, other healthcare settings, and community settings and systems.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, research to:

• Test models for healthcare and other settings to support screening and brief prevention and treatment interventions for substance misuse and substance use disorder, including illicit drug use, prescription drug and opioid misuse, and opioid use disorder as well as linkage to prevention and treatment services.
• Test models or strategies for screening and linkage to prevention and treatment services for populations who experience elevated risk for substance misuse and substance use disorder and have traditionally been excluded from research in healthcare settings and systems (primary care, emergency departments, urgent care, college health centers) and other systems (workplace, community, recreational, social services, criminal justice).
• Test models and strategies for integrating screening and referral or linkage to prevention and treatment services into healthcare systems/practices (e.g., policies, algorithms, decision tools, reminders), and test strategies for sustainability.
• Test innovative and new technologies to enhance implementation of screening and linkage to prevention and treatment services in healthcare and other settings.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) welcomes applications focused on normal and disordered communication processes, including diseases or conditions affecting hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. Populations of interest include both pediatric and adult. For this initiative, applications focused on screening and early identification of differences and disorders related to NIDCD mission areas are highly desirable. Applicants are strongly encouraged to learn more about NIDCD research areas at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/extramural.

Ares of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Intervention work (including screening) that evaluates the effect, feasibility, and accessibility of screening and interventions to improve health care and outcomes
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the provision of services and outcomes for populations that experience health disparities
• Studies involving diverse, underserved, and vulnerable populations that address appropriate screening
• Identification of effective screening practices that address special health care needs for populations that experience health disparities
• Research strategies and approaches to increase recommended screening as part of routine care
• Research that addresses disparities and inequities in minority health and health disparity populations related to identification of a disorder, access to care, or quality of care
• Development of multilevel interventions to enhance implementation of screening and linkage to prevention and treatment services in healthcare and other settings
• Study designs that examine aspects of screening across the care continuum from risk assessment to detection, through initial referral, and seeking care with medical or clinical providers
• Projects that aim to increase implementation and uptake of evidence-based screening among NIDCD mission areas

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

The dental office is a primary care setting that provides an opportunity for oral health practitioners to conduct preventive general and oral health services, such as evidence-based screenings. Many adolescents and adults in the U.S. may have a dental visit in a given year, but not a routine medical visit, or they may not be aware of the need to be screened for certain conditions throughout the lifespan. Evidence-based health screenings in dental offices provide opportunities to identify individuals with undiagnosed or progressing medical conditions, beyond those conditions specific to the head and neck region. Several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of conducting evidence-based screenings in the dental setting for medical conditions, such as diabetes. Additionally, previous research indicates acceptability of screening for medical conditions in a dental setting by both dental professionals and patients. Similarly, many young children in the U.S. may have annual medical wellness visits, but do not receive routine dental care due to access to care and other issues. Preventive oral health services delivered in medical offices may address oral health disparities and reduce dental caries, one of the most prevalent chronic conditions affecting children in the U.S.

NIDCR encourages multilevel interventions focused on implementing sustainable screening by oral health professionals in a dental setting and appropriate follow-up (treatment or referral) for medical conditions and risk behaviors that have received an evidence-based grade A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Examples of conditions suitable for screening include but are not limited to: tobacco use in children/adolescents or tobacco smoking cessation in adults; depression in children, adolescents, and adults; obesity in children and adolescents; prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes; hypertension; and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Further, NIDCR encourages multilevel interventions focused on implementing preventive oral health services in young children by medical professionals in a medical setting, such as fluoride varnish application and fluoride supplement prescriptions to prevent dental caries. The complete list of conditions with USPSTF evidence grade A & B is updated periodically, and investigators are encouraged to review the most up-to-date listing. Investigators may also consider interventions that are related to screening activities recommended in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Bright Futures Guidelines, or by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and that are relevant to NIDCR’s mission.

Study designs would include efficacy, effectiveness, dissemination or implementation studies that examine aspects of screening across the care continuum from risk assessment to detection, through initial referral, and seeking care with medical or dental providers. Research proposals must include screening uptake as a primary outcome.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, interventions that:

• Seek to improve the provision and uptake of medical and/or risk behavior screening in diverse dental settings, including those settings that target underserved populations. This may include establishing robust multidisciplinary networks for identification of high-risk patients;
• Assess aspects of screening, referral and seeking care for medical conditions by dental professionals;
• Improve rates of referral following screening;
• Implement sustainable oral health preventive services by medical professionals and assess the degree to which patients follow-up with and visit a dental provider after being screened and referred; and
• Enhance screening and referral using technology such as integrated Electronic Health Records and clinical decision support systems.

National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH)

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is interested in research on multi-level implementation strategies to increase recommended screening for indicated mental health conditions or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as part of routine care. Research is needed to test multilevel implementation strategies at the organizational, community, provider, and patient-levels to assess their impact on the adoption, scale-up and sustainment of research supported screening and related practices in relevant settings. Examples may include universal evidence-based depression screening across all populations ages 12 and older, and especially among underserved populations impacted by mental health disparities, in healthcare systems (e.g., primary care, emergency departments, coordinated specialty care and integrated behavioral healthcare) as well as other settings (e.g., community, school, child welfare, juvenile justice). Additional examples include screening for suicide risk among those patients 12 and above being treated for behavioral conditions, screening for ASD in pediatric settings, etc. For this NOSI, evidence-based screenings are those with an A or B recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) or recommendations from other professional organizations (e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics) that use a credible approach to reviewing evidence and making screening recommendations.

Examples of research encouraged by the NOSI include, but are not limited to, studies that focus on:

• Developing and testing implementation strategies that promote universal depression screening and linkage to mental health prevention and treatment services for diverse populations in healthcare systems and other settings.
• Testing strategies to incentivize the development and implementation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) identification and a treatment referral process in trauma patients (i.e., patients with physical injuries), consistent with guidance from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.
• Examining and identifying multilevel factors that contribute to or impede the integration, scale-up and sustainability of screening in routine healthcare, practices, and systems to inform targets for system-level strategies to facilitate screening.
• Examining and addressing social determinants of health that contribute to health inequities in the implementation of universal evidence-based depression screening among diverse populations experiencing mental health disparities.
• Testing novel and innovative technologies to enhance implementation of universal depression screening and linkage to mental health prevention and treatment services in routine practice within healthcare systems and other settings, including decision-support aids that can be used to triage and assign individuals to appropriate interventions and services.
• Refining and evaluating/comparing research-informed implementation strategies, including infrastructure support (e.g., practice alerts, clinical dashboards, provider incentives) for promoting sustained delivery and implementation fidelity of evidence-based approaches to screening for suicide risk with diverse mental health disparity populations.

For clinical trial research on the effectiveness of implementation strategies, NIMH requires a study design using an experimental therapeutics approach, in which clinical trials test intervention effects on mental health outcomes as well as elucidate the intervention’s mechanism(s) of action. In the case of implementation studies, targets/mechanisms might involve change in organizational/system-level factors to improve the adoption and sustained implementation of screening, and the fidelity and equity with which screening and related services are implemented. See the Support for Clinical Trials at NIMH web page for additional information and contact NIMH Program Staff in advance of applying for information about NIMH clinical trials practices and priorities.

In response to the Clinical Trial Parent Announcements (PA-20-183; PA-20-184; PA-20-194; PA-20-195; or PA-20-196), NIMH only accepts mechanistic studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial. See the FOAs for further information.

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

NIMHD is interested in projects that address screening disparities for conditions that are more prevalent in populations experiencing health disparities. Populations with health disparities include African Americans/Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minorities. Projects are encouraged that encompass multiple domains (e.g., biological, behavioral, socio-cultural, environmental, physical environment, healthcare system) and multiple levels (e.g., individual, interpersonal, community, societal) to improve screening behavior and effectiveness of current recommended screening practices in these populations (see the NIMHD Research Framework, https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/overview/research-framework.html).

Examples of potential topic areas include, but are not limited to:

• Multilevel interventions to increase uptake of current recommended screening practices among populations experiencing health disparities related to screening disparities.
• Develop and test strategies to address social determinants of health to improve screening behaviors among underserved populations.
• Clinical and pragmatic trials of efficacy and effectiveness of existing screening methods, particularly those recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), that have not been adequately tested or implemented in populations with health disparities.
• Novel mechanisms or technology to address screening gaps in underserved populations with health disparities.
• Development and testing of culturally relevant strategies that better address barriers and facilitators of recommended screening uptake in populations with health disparities.
• Adaptation of screening practices that incorporate structural determinants (i.e., systems-level factors) of health and screening uptake unique to populations with health disparities.
• Comparative effectiveness of different interventions to increase recommended screening practices among populations with health disparities.
• Development and collaboration of community-based research approaches to implement culturally appropriate strategies to improve screening uptake of recommended practices among populations experiencing screening gaps and health disparities.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

The NINDS is interested in mission relevant applications. The NINDS supports basic, clinical, translational, and implementation research focused on identifying, monitoring, and targeting biological, environmental, social, community, structural, and healthcare system factors that lead to or are associated with disparities (or inequities) in neurological diseases and care across the lifespan. Some priority disease areas include stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (including frontotemporal neurodegeneration, Lewy body dementias, vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia and mixed etiology dementia), epilepsy, migraine, nervous system infections, spinal cord injury, headache, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders, brain trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders, and the neurological consequences of HIV/AIDS. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate community engagement strategies into their study designs. A letter of intent and communication with NINDS program staff prior to submission of an application is strongly encouraged.

NINDS will only accept applications in response to?PA-20-184? Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) and PA-20-185? NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) in response to this NOSI.

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) supports research that advances the prevention, detection, and management of disease and disability for individuals and populations and informs practice and policy across clinical and community settings. Drawing on nursing’s holistic, contextualized perspective, NINR funds observational, intervention, and implementation research that integrates factors at multiple levels, including social determinants of health, to identify their role in health, health improvement, and health equity across many settings, including homes, schools, workplaces, clinics, justice settings, and the community.

Office of Disease Prevention (ODP)

The ODP is interested in research that tests multilevel interventions to improve the uptake of evidence-based screening services among (but not limited to) populations that experience health disparities and that address topics relevant to the mission and research priorities outlined in the ODP Strategic Plan. Studies that aim to understand and address barriers to screening are also encouraged. Furthermore, the ODP encourages applications that include projects seeking to develop and/or test preventive interventions. The ODP offers co-funding support for research that has strong implications for disease and injury prevention, advances health equity, and that includes innovative and appropriate research design, measurement, and analysis methods. Information on resources for designing studies using the best available methods is available at: https://researchmethodsresources.nih.gov/. ODP does not award grants. Please contact one of the IC program contacts listed for questions related to funding.

Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)

The ODS supports research that strengthens the knowledge and understanding of dietary supplement use in the U.S. population. The ODS is interested in providing co-funding support for research on the role of dietary supplements in the prevention of disease and the maintenance of health. Dietary supplement ingredients are defined as including vitamins, minerals, herbs and other botanicals, amino acids, and other dietary or bioactive substances, consumed by mouth as dietary supplements to promote health and prevent disease. For this NOSI, ODS is interested in research that addresses the uptake of screenings that include assessment of dietary intake, nutrition, and dietary supplement use, as well as research that identifies barriers to dietary intake-related screening uptake or implementation among vulnerable population groups, such as pregnant women, children, older adults, asymptomatic adults at risk of disease or disability, and those that experience health disparities. ODS does not award grants. Please contact one of the IC program contacts listed for questions related to funding.

Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)

ORWH stimulates and encourages health-related research on the role of sex and gender in health and disease, and is interested in projects of relevance to the health of women and individuals assigned female at birth. Of particular interest are projects that consider sex and/or gender in intersection with social determinants of health. ORWH is also interested in projects that focus on screening for female-specific conditions, conditions that disproportionately affect women, and conditions that are understudied in women, as well as other projects aligned with the 2019-2023 NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Women’s Health Research. ORWH does not award grants. Please contact one of the IC program contacts listed for questions related to funding.

Application and Submission Information

This NOSI applies to due dates on or after October 4, 2022, and subsequent receipt dates through May 8, 2025.

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include NOT-OD-22-178 (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Investigators planning to submit an application in response to this NOSI are strongly encouraged to contact and discuss their proposed research/aims with Program staff/Scientific Contacts listed on this NOSI well in advance of the application receipt date to better determine appropriateness and interest of the relevant Institute.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Melissa C. Green Parker, PhD
Office of Disease Prevention (ODP)
Telephone: 301-480-1161
Email: [email protected]

Elizabeth A. Sarma, PhD, MPH
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-7434
Email: [email protected]

Marcel E. Salive, MD, MPH
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-496-5278
Email: [email protected]

Tatiana Balachova, PhD
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Telephone: 301-443-5726
Email: [email protected]

Kristy M. Nicks, PhD
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Telephone: 301-594-5055
Email: [email protected]

Tracy King, MD, MPH
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-402-1822
Email: [email protected]

Sarah Steverman, PhD, MSW
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-827-5435
Email: [email protected]

Judith A. Cooper, PhD
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Telephone: 301-496-5061
Email: [email protected]

Lorena Baccaglini, DDS, MS, PhD, NE-CPhT
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-435-7908
Email: [email protected]

Dena Fischer, DDS, MSD, MS
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-594-4876
Email: [email protected]

Denise Pintello, Ph.D., M.S.W.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-451-1481
Email: [email protected]

Olga M. Herren, PhD
National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Telephone: 301-402-4492
Email: [email protected]

Richard T. Benson, M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
E-mail: [email protected]

Dionne Godette-Greer, PhD
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Telephone: 301-827-0095
Email: [email protected]

Patricia Haggerty, PhD
Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
Telephone: 301-529-4884
Email: [email protected]

Elizabeth Anne Barr, PhD
Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
Telephone: 301-402-7895
Email: [email protected]

Christopher Barnhart, PhD
Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO)
Telephone: 301-594-8983
Email: [email protected]